Virginia Law

Article 7. Continuing Education.

A. Every individual resident and nonresident (i) insurance consultant, (ii) life and annuities insurance agent, (iii) health agent, (iv) property and casualty insurance agent (v) personal lines agent, and (vi) title insurance agent shall, on a biennial basis, furnish evidence as set forth in this article that the continuing education requirements of this article have been satisfied. As used in this article, the term "agent" shall be construed to refer to any of the individual licensees referred to above.

B. Every individual resident and nonresident public adjuster shall, on a biennial basis, furnish evidence as set forth in this article that the continuing education requirements of this article have been satisfied.

C. Any agent who holds a life and annuities license or a health agent license, or both, shall complete 16 hours of relevant continuing education credits.

D. Any agent who holds a personal lines license or a property and casualty license shall complete 16 hours of relevant continuing education credits.

E. Any agent who holds a title agent license shall complete 16 hours of relevant continuing education credits.

F. A public adjuster shall complete 24 hours of relevant continuing education credits.

G. Except as provided in subsection B and § 38.2-1871, any agent who holds licenses from more than one category of licenses identified in subsection A shall complete 24 hours of relevant continuing education credits with a minimum of eight credit hours in each such category.

H. Of the total required credits for each biennium, an agent shall complete three credit hours in insurance ethics, which may include insurance law and regulations applicable in the Commonwealth.

I. Of the total required credits for each biennium, a public adjuster shall complete three credit hours in insurance ethics.

J. Agents may receive no more than 75 percent of their required credits from courses provided by insurance companies or agencies. The Board, in its sole discretion, shall, at the time of course approval, determine whether any particular course shall be considered to be insurance company or agency sponsored and shall require all course sponsors to provide this information clearly and conspicuously to all those enrolling in that course.

1992, c. 570; 1994, c. 175; 1996, c. 159; 1998, c. 46; 1999, c. 86; 2001, c. 706; 2012, c. 294; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441.

A. An insurance continuing education board, hereinafter called the Board, appointed by the Commission, shall approve all continuing education instructors, programs of instruction, and courses, including technical courses or agency management and operations courses, and shall evaluate credit hours for all programs or courses offered. The Board shall establish and monitor standards for the education of insurance agents and public adjusters and set minimum requirements for course instructors. The Board shall have the authority to disapprove or withdraw approval of course sponsors, courses, or course instructors when the established standards are not satisfied, or where such standards have been violated.

B. The number of credits for each self-study course, correspondence course, or program of classroom instruction shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Board. However, for an approved classroom course, a credit hour shall be equivalent to a classroom hour providing at least 50 minutes of continuous instruction or participation. No credits shall be granted for approved classroom courses unless notice to the Board is accompanied by proof of attendance by the course provider. No credits shall be granted for any correspondence or self-study course that does not include a test of the subject matter which shall be successfully completed by each agent requesting credit. The Board shall have the right to review and approve or disapprove the proposed test as part of the course approval process.

C. An instructor of an approved continuing education course shall be eligible to receive the same number of credits as a person enrolled in the course for the purpose of meeting the continuing education course requirements of this article. However, agents, public adjusters, and instructors may apply credits for attending or teaching the same course only once during the two-year period set forth in subsection B of § 38.2-1868.1.

D. Any agent with excess credit hours accumulated during the two-year period set forth in subsection B of § 38.2-1868.1 may carry such hours forward to the next biennium only.

E. Members of the Board shall be appointed by the Commission as follows:

1. One active member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, as recommended by the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia;

2. One active member of the Professional Insurance Agents of Virginia and the District of Columbia, as recommended by the Professional Insurance Agents of Virginia and the District of Columbia;

3. One active member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Virginia, as recommended by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Virginia;

4. One active member of the Virginia Land Title Association, as recommended by the Virginia Land Title Association;

5. One active member of the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, as recommended by the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals;

6. One active member of the Virginia chapter of the National African American Insurance Association, as recommended by the Virginia chapter of the National African American Insurance Association;

7. Three representatives of the property and casualty insurance industry;

8. Three representatives of the life and health insurance industry; and

9. One representative of the adult education or higher education field.

F. No person shall serve as a member of the Board if, in the opinion of the Commission, such person (i) prepares, submits for approval, or teaches insurance continuing education courses in Virginia or in any other jurisdiction, other than as an incidental part of such person's employment, or (ii) no longer meets the criteria on which the original appointment to the Board was based pursuant to subsection E.

G. No meeting of the Board or any subcommittee of the Board shall be held unless timely notice of such meeting has been provided to the Commission's Bureau of Insurance. At any such meeting of the Board or any subcommittee of the Board, one or more representatives from the Bureau of Insurance shall be permitted to attend and to participate in such meeting, except that such Bureau of Insurance representative or representatives shall not have the right to vote on any matters before the Board.

H. Actions of the Board shall be exempt from the application of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1992, c. 570; 1996, c. 159; 2001, cc. 350, 706; 2004, c. 765; 2019, c. 675; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441; 2024, c. 364.

Repealed by Acts 1996, c. 159.

A. As used in this article:

"Proof of compliance" means all fees prescribed by the Board and all documents and forms specified by the Board for demonstrating completion of Board-approved continuing education courses relevant to the license held and for the required number of hours.

"Received by the Board or its administrator" means delivered into the possession of the Board or its administrator in a form and manner prescribed by the Board.

B. Each agent and public adjuster holding one or more licenses subject to the continuing education requirements of this article shall complete all continuing education course or waiver requirements and shall submit to the Board or its administrator proof of compliance with such requirements in the form and manner required by the Board biennially, based on the agent's or public adjuster's month and year of birth. An agent or public adjuster born in an even-numbered year shall complete all continuing education course or waiver requirements and shall submit proof of compliance by the end of the agent's or public adjuster's birth month in even-numbered years. An agent or public adjuster born in an odd-numbered year shall complete all continuing education course or waiver requirements and shall submit proof of compliance by the end of the agent's or public adjuster's birth month in odd-numbered years.

C. A licensed agent or public adjuster who is unable to comply with the continuing education requirements of this article due to military service or other extenuating circumstances, including long-term illness or incapacity may request a waiver of such requirements. Requests for waivers of continuing education requirements shall be made in a form and manner prescribed by the Board. An agent or public adjuster seeking a waiver of some or all of the continuing education requirements shall submit all documentation, forms, and fees specified by the Board so as to be received by the Board or its administrator no later than the last day of the two-year period set forth in subsection B and in §§ 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, and 38.2-1845.8. After the two-year period, an agent or public adjuster who has failed to complete the continuing education requirements may request a waiver of the continuing education reinstatement requirements set forth in subsection E of § 38.2-1825.1, subsection E of § 38.2-1840, and subsection E of § 38.2-1845.8 within the 12-month reinstatement period described therein. The Board shall approve or disapprove the waiver request within 30 days of receipt thereof and shall provide written notice of its decision to the waiver applicant within five days of rendering its decision. Any waiver granted pursuant to this subsection shall be valid only for the biennium for which waiver application was made.

D. All fees specified by the Board shall be nonrefundable once received by the Commission, the Board, or the Board's administrator, except that duplicate payments may be refunded.

1996, c. 159; 1998, c. 46; 2000, c. 522; 2001, c. 706; 2006, c. 589; 2012, c. 294; 2016, c. 285; 2018, c. 668; 2019, c. 675; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441.

A. Failure of an agent or public adjuster to complete all continuing education course or waiver requirements, pay any fee imposed by the Board, or otherwise furnish proof of compliance during the two-year period set forth in subsection B of § 38.2-1868.1, or to complete the license renewal requirements set forth in § 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, or 38.2-1845.8, shall result in the termination, pursuant to § 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, or 38.2-1845.8, of each license held by the agent or public adjuster for which the requirements of this article were not satisfied.

B. Neither the Board, its administrator, nor the Commission shall have the power to grant an agent or public adjuster additional time for completing the continuing education credits required by § 38.2-1866, or additional time for seeking waivers or submitting proof of compliance as required by § 38.2-1868.1.

C. An agent or public adjuster whose license has been terminated pursuant to § 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, or 38.2-1845.8 for failure to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this article may appeal the determination of noncompliance to the Board. However, failure of an agent or public adjuster to provide notice of appeal in the form and manner prescribed by the Board within 30 calendar days following expiration of the two-year period set forth in subsection B of § 38.2-1868.1 and in §§ 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, and 38.2-1845.8 shall be deemed a waiver by such agent or public adjuster of the right to appeal the determination of noncompliance with the Board.

D. Pursuant to the requirements of subsection C of § 38.2-1815 and §§ 38.2-1857.1 and 55.1-1003, respectively:

1. A resident variable contract agent whose life and annuities insurance agent license is terminated for failure to satisfy the requirements of this article shall also have such variable contract license terminated by the Commission;

2. A resident agent holding a license as a surplus lines broker whose property and casualty insurance agent license is terminated for failure to satisfy the requirements of this article shall also have such surplus lines broker license terminated by the Commission; and

3. An agent holding a registration as a title settlement agent whose title insurance agent license is terminated for failure to satisfy the requirements of this article shall also have such registration as a title settlement agent terminated by the Commission.

Any such license or registration so terminated may be applied for again after the agent has obtained, respectively, a new life and annuities insurance agent's license, a new property and casualty insurance agent's license, or a new title insurance agent's license and appointment, if appointment is required.

E. An insurance consultant who fails to renew his insurance consultant license by the date specified in § 38.2-1840, but who reinstates his insurance consultant license within 12 months following such renewal date shall be treated, for purposes of determining exemption from continuing education requirements pursuant to § 38.2-1871, as if such insurance consultant license had been renewed in a timely manner.

F. A resident public adjuster whose license has been terminated under the terms of this section and whose license is not reinstated pursuant to § 38.2-1845.8 shall be permitted to make application for a new license if all of the requirements of § 38.2-1845.2 are met.

1992, c. 570; 1994, c. 175; 1995, c. 554; 1996, c. 159; 1997, c. 583; 1998, c. 46; 2000, c. 522; 2001, c. 706; 2002, c. 296; 2006, c. 589; 2010, c. 281; 2012, c. 294; 2016, c. 285; 2018, c. 668; 2019, c. 675; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441.

Repealed by Acts 2019, c. 675, cl. 2, effective January 1, 2021.

A. A resident or nonresident agent or public adjuster who has been issued a license during the last 13 months of the two-year period set forth in subsection B of § 38.2-1868.1 and in §§ 38.2-1825.1, 38.2-1840, and 38.2-1845.8 shall be exempt from fulfilling the continuing education course requirements set forth in this article for that license for that biennium.

B. The following licensees are not subject to the continuing education course requirements set forth in this article:

1. Life and health insurance consultants who are also licensed both as life and annuities insurance agents and as health agents and who satisfy the continuing education course requirements needed for continuation of their life and annuities and health agent licenses;

2. Property and casualty insurance consultants who are also licensed as property and casualty agents and who satisfy the continuing education course requirements needed for continuation of their property and casualty agent license;

3. Nonresident agents who have met the continuing education requirements of their home state and whose home state gives credit to residents of the Commonwealth on the same basis;

4. Nonresident public adjusters who have met the continuing education requirements of their home state and whose home state gives credit to residents of the Commonwealth on the same basis; and

5. Agents who have applied for and received a permanent exemption from the continuing education course requirements set forth in this article by December 31, 2018.

1992, c. 570; 1994, c. 175; 1996, c. 159; 1997, c. 583; 2000, c. 522; 2001, cc. 32, 706; 2018, c. 668; 2019, c. 675; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441.

A. The Board shall have the authority to transfer all or part of its administrative duties to an outside administrator. The performance of the administrator shall be confirmed at least annually by the Board and appropriate corrective action shall be taken for any deficiencies. Such administrator shall maintain records reflecting the continuing education status of all licensed agents reporting credits to it, subject to the requirements of this article.

B. The Board or its administrator shall be provided such information from the Commission's records as the Board may reasonably require in order to carry out its duties, including, but not limited to, (i) requesting and receiving from the Commission computer-generated reports, mailing labels, or other computer-generated information containing the names, license identification numbers, license types, and residence addresses of all licensees subject to the requirements of this article and (ii) direct on-line access to such automated system data as the Commission may deem appropriate.

1992, c. 570; 1996, c. 159; 1998, c. 46; 2000, c. 522; 2001, c. 706; 2012, c. 294; 2018, c. 668; 2019, c. 675.

The continuing insurance education program established by this article shall be self-supporting, and any costs incurred by the Board, its members, its administrator, or the Commission in connection with the good faith execution of their respective duties pertaining to the continuing education of insurance agents and public adjusters licensed in the Commonwealth shall be borne by the continuing insurance education fees paid by agents, public adjusters, course sponsors, and course instructors, which fees, except for duplicate payments, shall be nonrefundable upon receipt.

1992, c. 570; 1996, c. 159; 2012, c. 294; 2019, c. 675; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 441.

A. The Board shall submit to the Commission a plan of operation that provides for the fair and nondiscriminatory administration of the continuing insurance education program established pursuant to this article. Such plan shall not become effective until approved by the Commission in writing. The Board may, at any time, propose amendments to the plan of operation, and such amendments shall not become effective until approved by the Commission. The plan of operation shall:

1. Establish guidelines for the Board to utilize in adopting procedures for exercising its powers and duties;

2. Establish guidelines for the Board to utilize in adopting procedures for handling the assets of the continuing insurance education program;

3. Establish guidelines for reimbursing members of the Board for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties and for indemnifying members for all expenses and liabilities incurred as a result of their serving as members of the Board;

4. Establish guidelines for determining places and times for meetings of the Board;

5. Establish guidelines for adopting procedures for records to be kept of all financial transactions of the Board and administrator;

6. Establish procedures for the election of Board officers;

7. Establish guidelines pursuant to which the Board may adopt a reasonable means whereby any person aggrieved by an action of the Board or administrator may appeal such action to the Board and, after written request, be heard in person or by an authorized representative to review the grievance. Guidelines may include additional levels of appeal other than those set forth herein, but shall provide, at a minimum, that (i) if the Board or its administrator fails to grant or reject the grievance within 15 calendar days after it is made, the person filing the grievance may proceed in the same manner as if his grievance had been rejected; (ii) any person adversely affected by the action of the Board or its administrator on such request may, within 15 calendar days after written notice of the action, make a written request for informal review by the Bureau of Insurance, which shall affirm or reverse the action upon not less than 10 calendar days' written notice to the person and to the Board or its administrator; and (iii) any person adversely affected by the action of the Bureau of Insurance on such request may, within 15 calendar days after written notice of the action, appeal to the Commission pursuant to the Commission's "Rules of Practice and Procedure." The Commission may affirm or reverse the action upon not less than 10 calendar days' written notice to the person and to the Board or its administrator; and

8. Contain guidelines for the Board to utilize in adopting additional provisions necessary or proper for the execution of the powers and duties of the Board including but not limited to (i) program requirements and approved programs of study; (ii) qualifications and responsibilities of course instructors; (iii) management and record-keeping responsibilities; (iv) fee schedules and filing requirements; and (v) course refund policies and procedures.

B. If the Commission disapproves all or any part of the proposed plan of operation or amendment thereto, the Board shall within 15 calendar days submit for review an appropriate revised plan of operation or amendment thereto. If the Board fails to do so, the Commission shall promulgate a plan of operation or an amended plan of operation. The plan of operation or amended plan of operation approved or promulgated by the Commission shall become effective and operational upon order of the Commission.

C. A regular meeting of the Board shall be held at least annually at such time, date, and place approved by the Board. Special meetings may be called at any time by the chairman. Notices of all regular and special meetings shall be sent to each person serving as a representative on the Board or a subcommittee of the Board and to the Commission. Each notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and include any proposed changes in rules or procedures. Any such meeting notices shall be given in such form as may be acceptable to the Board at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the meeting.

D. The books of account, records, reports and other documents of the Board and its administrator shall be open to the Commission for examination at all reasonable hours.

E. There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action shall arise against any member of the Board, the Board, the Board's agents or employees, or the Commission or its representatives for any action taken or statement made by them in good faith in the performance of their powers and duties under this article.

1992, c. 570; 1994, c. 175; 1996, c. 159; 2001, c. 706; 2010, c. 335; 2012, c. 294.